Campaign Against the EU Constitution

The European Union's Lisbon reform treaty [It is called the Lisbon Treaty there is no such document as the Lisbon Reform Treaty] would have been rejected in most countries had they followed Ireland's example and held a referendum on it last year, EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said today.

Mr McCreevy drew criticism last year for saying just weeks before Ireland's referendum that he had not read the entire treaty and did not expect "any sane, sensible person" to do so in their free time.

Ireland will hold a second referendum in early October after winning guarantees [Political Promises] on issues of main concern for voters including abortion, taxation and military neutrality.

A clear majority of voters now support the treaty but the Government has vowed to run a much more vigorous campaign than last year to rule out the possibility of another rejection which it says would completely marginalise Ireland in the EU.

By Corporate Europe Observatory
March 12th, 2009

The EU’s international water policies will face a double challenge from civil society campaigners and Southern governments when the World Water Forum starts in Istanbul next week (March 16-22) after a disagreement in negotiations in the run up to the Forum on the right to water [1].

According to a new report from Corporate Europe Observatory, the EU is still pushing for the inclusion of water in trade agreements, promoting privatised water services, and undermining water as a basic right [2].

A bloc of Latin American governments led by Uruguay is insisting that the Forum's Ministerial Declaration recognises the right to water, that water should be excluded from trade negotiations and that the World Water Forum should become part of a democratically accountable UN process. These demands - supported by a global coalition of civil society groups - have so far been rejected by the US and EU governments.

Published: 3 March, 2009

Sinn Fein Vice President and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has this morning welcomed Green Party Leader John Gormley’s admission that the Lisbon Treaty will lead to Ireland increasing its military spend in Europe. Ms McDonald has also called on the government to put into the public domain any and all texts relating to the Lisbon re-run guarantees adding ‘if the government has secured guarantees, well, let’s see them! It’s time to end the charade. Ireland and Europe need a new treaty for a new time.”

Speaking today from Dublin Ms McDonald said:

“Throughout the Lisbon campaign Sinn Féin argued that the Treaty would lead to Ireland being forced to increase its military spend in Europe. This argument was roundly rejected by the government and political proponents of the Treaty.

Communique: No to war – No to NATO

Feb 24th, 2009
http://www.no-to-nato.org/2009/02/24/communique-2/

Brothers in spirit: Intensification of EU-NATO co-operation

Tobias Pflüger MEP writing in 'War Resiters’ International'

23 Feb 2009

http://www.wri-irg.org/node/6719

Paper by leading employment lawyers Daniel Ornstein & Herbert Smith:

“Laval, Viking Line and the Limited Right to Strike"

http://www.elaweb.org.uk/resources/lavalvikinglineandthelimitedrighttost...